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Portland Staycation: 39 ways to enjoy Portland, Oregon on a budget

Shared on May 9, 2017This post may contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. See the disclosure policy for more information.

Portland Staycation Ideas

Updated for 2017

Looking for ways to enjoy Portland without breaking the bank? The following is a list of fun and frugal activities, events, and attractions to get your imagination started! This list can be enjoyed by vacationers, newly transplanted Portlanders, and those who have lived in Portlandia for decades. Each listing includes a general pricing guide:

FREE — won’t cost you penny!

$ — Under $5 per person

$$ — Under $10 per person

$$$ — Over $10 per person

SWIM

Portland Parks & Rec Swimming Pools (Portland, $): Enjoy a dip in a public indoor or outdoor pool! Be sure to also check out the summer movie events — enjoy a family movie from your floatie!

OMSI (SE Portland, $$): Special dedicated area for preschool kids plus exhibits that will interest the entire family! $2 admission on the first Sunday of every month (confirmed for 2017!).

Portland Children’s Museum (SW Portland, $$): Check out their 1.3 acre ADA-accessible outdoor exhibit: Outdoor Adventure, along with all other types of educational fun for little ones. Get FREE passes through your public library and on the first Friday evening of the month.

Jamison Square (Downtown Portland, FREE): Cool off at the huge outdoor fountains and enjoy walking along the Willamette River.

Portland Timbers (Downtown Portland, $$$): Catch one of Portland’s two professional sports teams. Not a soccer fan? Don’t worry. Watching the Timbers Army is worth the price of admission so try to grab a seat at the north end of the park.

Oaks Park Amusement Park Preschool Rides (SE Portland, $$): Kids ages six and under get the run of Oaks Park every Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 9:30 AM – 12 PM throughout the summer. Admission includes unlimited preschool rides, milk, and cookies plus story time with an Oregon Dairy Princess. One adult FREE with paid child’s admission. Begins Tuesday June 20, 2017.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (Vancouver, WA, $, FREE for kids): Explore the lands and structures at the center of fur trade and military history in the Pacific Northwest. Great fun for kids.

Movies in the Park (Portland, FREE): Beginning of July – early September — Catch a summer flick at Portland area parks. Movies start at dusk; pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm.

Concerts in the Park (Portland, FREE): July – August — Enjoy a free concert at Portland area parks. Starts at 6:00 or 6:30 pm.

OPS Fest (Portland, FREE):End of May – August — Experience a new style of Shakespearean performance! Actors perform the way Shakespeare’s own actors did: in the open air, in natural light, with minimal sets, and with great, fast-paced, energetic acting and lots of audience interaction!

Sunday Parkways (Portland, FREE): Walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation while enjoying various Portland neighborhoods. Five Sundays throughout the summer, sponsored by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (starts May 21st, 2017).

Providence Bridge Pedal (Downtown Portland, $$$ for adults, kids are FREE ): Sunday, August 13, 2017 — The only way to truly enjoy the Willamette River bridges – including the top decks of the Fremont and Marquam bridges. Bike and walk options available.

Pedalpalooza 2017 (Portland, FREE – $): Enjoy 3+ weeks of bike fun with over 230 different events June 1-30. There are family-friendly events in addition to adult-only rides.

Portland 5K Family Fun Runs(Portland, FREE – $5): Held Sundays from May to October at local Portland parks. Adults are $5, kids 17 and under are FREE!

EXPLORE

4T Trail (Portland, $$): Explore the city with this four-mile hiking trail and the combined rides on the OHSU tram, Portland trolley, and MAX train. Takes about 4 hours to complete.

Forest Park (Portland, FREE): Eighty+ miles of jogging, hiking, and biking trails with 19 trail heads for easy access (maps are available at REI, New Seasons, Powell’s and other PDX locations).

Japanese Gardens (SW Portland, $$): Proclaimed the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. Free guided tours with admission.

Multhomah Falls (Columbia Gorge, FREE): Discover Oregon’s tallest waterfall from both the bottom and the top. Depending on your energy level, you can take the moderate 2.2 mile hike to the top, a difficult 5.4 mile look that includes Wahkeena Falls, or just enjoy the view from the bottom at Multnomah Falls Lodge.

Pittock Mansion (NW Portland, $$): Take a self-guided tour of the home of Henry & Georgiana Pittock, Portland pioneers.